I didn't think it was that dirty. I'm almost positive I was clean or at least acceptably so. It did look like a shady terrorist arms deal though. Perusing hardware out the boot of car on a patch of waste ground is never a good look for a couple of handsome law abiding citizens such as ourselves.

I've played around with the consoles, giving them a clean and getting them set up.

The Master System really is gorgeous, isn't it? While the picture looks nice on the PVM, the scart cable doesn't carry sound (it uses a headphone jack from the Model 1 Mega Drive), so I'm missing the joy of plugging it into my sound system and having room shaking bleeps and bloops. Got it set it up on my big CRT through RF and got sound, but not proper colour. Either way, Hang-On is a bit rubbish, but Safari Hunt works surprisingly well. Snail Maze ain't bad either.

The Saturn appears to be doing fine, though the controller looks like it's on the way out. Might just need a clean, but it was going well wonky when trying to set up the dates and use the system menu. Plugged in an "Arcade Racer" and it worked perfectly. Yet to see it have a problem with disks as I managed to get a game of Daytona in using the wheel. Will keep an eye on it. Need to get a good scart cable for it as well.

Now I'm just trying to put together a hit-list of Master System games to track down and snooping about leads for Saturn mod chips.

So, all in all, I'm dead chuffed with this haul. Thank you for enabling me to fall further into Sega addiction.

Right. Saturn is acting all the way up now. After looking into the realities of fixing a Saturn, my dreams of doing a repair job on the system are fading. Seems you need all kinds of electrical engineer stuff to make a proper go of it. Before factoring specialist tools, the parts alone would cost more than just buying a working system from ebay. It was an ambitious, noble idea, but I'll have to scrap it.

Friggin' old mechanical consoles, man. Still, managed one race in Daytona with the Arcade Racer, so it went out on a high, at least.

Feels like a massive betrayal, but it'd just be so much cheaper to just buy one of those Saturn controller to USB docks and play the games on an emulator. At least that way I can use the pad and even put the picture through my CRT monitor, should I want the right look and feel.

And, all the while, the Master System and Mega Drive watch on. Solid state, no moving parts and working just dandy decades later.

Medicine Man wrote:I'm assuming its not as easy as just replacing the laser?

Hm. Well, it'll cost about 16 quid to get a new laser sent out, which isn't too bad in itself, though I'd need to source or buy a soldering iron. What worries me is that you might need to calibrate the laser as well, which needs even fancier electrician tools.

Then factor in 30 dollars for the region changer, 40 for the mod chip to read back-up games (like I'd ever go out and buy Panzer Dagoon Saga) and more use of soldering tools for installing a 50/60 frequency mod...I'm stating to think sticking to original hardware is going to break the bank with not not much to show for it.

I'll need to think about it.

Now, shifting focus to the Master System, this might be a tall order but here is a list of games I'm after. Do you think you would be able to cross reference it with what you remember having in storage?

Well, here's a twist. Got the Saturn working. There was this one trick about adjusting the laser, some wee dial that had to be tweaked to just the right resistance. Downside being that going too far will break the whole thing. Figured, screw it, if I get it wrong, it's not like the system was working properly in the first place. Gave it a millimeter twist and, to my surprise, games started working! What a thrill!

Downside: Can't play much as the controller is well and truly goosed. I've got to ask, did you ever spill anything on it? It was a dire state of affairs on the inside and, even with a clean, didn't work.At least it looked well loved and had a full life. Or it just went fousty in the loft. One or the other.

Crikey I can't remember. The old Saturn seen me through my formative years and all that excesses that brings. So its very possible it went through all of the above.

Apologies if there was anything particularly revolting inside. I did have a rake of pads and a multitap (for Deathtank!) but they appear to be missing most likely my older brother who was keen on lifting my belongings never to be seen again.

I'm thinking, I've got to really be in the mood for the Saturn to start laying down that money. I'm glad it's working, but the Master System looks like more fun at the moment. Pretty much just pick up cheap games and go play.

Also, why does Alex Kidd in Miracle World cost so damn much? Ugh. Can't be gassed with that.